Switchable plate manufacturing vacuum tool

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for a vacuum tool having a switchable plate, such that a common vacuum tool may be adapted with different plates. A switchable plate may form the entirety of the vacuum tool's material contacting surface or a switchable plate may form a portion of the material contacting surface. The vacuum tool is effective for picking and placing one or more manufacturing parts utilizing a vacuum force.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vacuum tool comprising:
 a vacuum distributor, the vacuum distributor comprised of an exterior top surface, an interior top surface, an exterior side surface, and an interior side surface; 
 a vacuum distribution cavity, the vacuum distribution cavity formed, at least in part, by the interior top surface and the interior side surface; and 
 a switchable plate removably coupled to the vacuum distributor thereby enclosing the vacuum distribution cavity within the vacuum distributor and the switchable plate, wherein the switchable plate is comprised of a plurality of plate portions, and wherein each of the plurality of plate portions comprise an interior plate surface, an exterior plate surface adapted to provide a planar, non-compressible surface for contacting a part to be manipulated by the vacuum tool, and a plurality of apertures extending through the interior plate surface and the exterior plate surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of plate portions is adapted to be removably coupled to the vacuum distributor independently from any remaining portions of the plurality of plate portions. 
     
     
       3. The vacuum tool of  claim 2 , wherein the switchable plate is comprised of a junction allowing removable coupling of the plurality of plate portions and intervening between at least two adjacent plate portions of the plurality of plate portions. 
     
     
       4. The vacuum tool of  claim 3 , wherein the junction extends in a linear path creating consistent sized plate portions. 
     
     
       5. The vacuum tool of  claim 3 , wherein the junction extends in a non-linear path providing a level of control over a location of one or more of the plurality of plate portions relative to a material to be manipulated. 
     
     
       6. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of apertures for each of the plurality of plate portions form an aperture pattern, and wherein at least one of the plurality of plate portion's aperture pattern is configured to be different from any remaining portions of the plurality of plate portions in size, pitch, offset, shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       7. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealant, the sealant between the vacuum distributor and the switchable plate. 
     
     
       8. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein the switchable plate is removably coupled with the vacuum distributor using a tongue and groove maintaining mechanism, an exterior located physical maintaining mechanism, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       9. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein the switchable plate is removably coupled with the vacuum distributor using a recessed maintaining mechanism. 
     
     
       10. The vacuum tool of  claim 9 , wherein the switchable plate is comprised of a recessed cavity through which the recessed maintaining mechanism extends. 
     
     
       11. The vacuum tool of  claim 1 , wherein the switchable plate is removably coupled with the vacuum distributor using an adhesive maintaining mechanism. 
     
     
       12. The vacuum tool of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive maintaining mechanism is comprised of a magnetic material. 
     
     
       13. The vacuum tool of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive maintaining mechanism is comprised of a state-changing material that is applied in a first state and maintains the switchable plate in a desired orientation relative to the vacuum distributor when in a second state. 
     
     
       14. A vacuum tool comprising:
 a plurality of vacuum distributors, each vacuum distributor of the plurality of vacuum distributors coupled to at least one other vacuum distributor of the plurality of vacuum distributors; 
 a plurality of discrete vacuum distribution cavities, wherein each vacuum distributor of the plurality of vacuum distributors forms, at least in part, an associated vacuum distribution cavity of the plurality of vacuum distribution cavities; and 
 a vacuum plate removably coupled to one or more of the plurality of vacuum distributors thereby enclosing one or more of the plurality of vacuum distribution cavities, 
 wherein the vacuum plate is comprised of a plurality of plate portions, and wherein each of the plurality of plate portions comprise an interior plate surface, an exterior plate surface adapted to provide a planar, non-compressible surface for contacting a part to be manipulated by the vacuum tool, and a plurality of apertures extending through the interior plate surface and the exterior plate surface. 
 
     
     
       15. The vacuum tool of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of distribution cavities are uniquely associated with one of the plurality of plate portions. 
     
     
       16. The vacuum tool of  claim 14 , wherein two or more of the plurality of plate portions are associated with one of the plurality of distribution cavities. 
     
     
       17. The vacuum tool of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of plate portions is associated with two or more of the plurality of distribution cavities. 
     
     
       18. A method of manufacturing utilizing a vacuum tool comprised of a removably coupled plate having a plurality of plate portions, the method comprising:
 removing a first plate portion of the plurality of plate portions having a first plurality of apertures forming a first aperture pattern from the vacuum tool; and 
 removably coupling a second plate portion comprised of an exterior plate surface adapted to provide a planar, non-compressible surface for contacting a part to be manipulated by the vacuum tool and having a second plurality of apertures forming a second aperture pattern to the vacuum tool, 
 wherein the second plate portion when removably coupled to the vacuum tool is in fluid communication with a vacuum source associated with the vacuum tool on an internal side. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second plate portion is associated with two or more distribution cavities of the vacuum tool. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the second plate portion and at least one remaining plate portion of the plurality of plate portions collectively enclose a single distribution cavity of the vacuum tool.